The manager-less Champions League finalists are ready to break the world record for a transfer fee for a player who scored 33 goals in his first season in the Premier League.

The Daily Mail reports that Roman Abramovich has given Peter Kenyon permission to bid the same amount of money as the Russian offered Arsenal for their striker Thierry Henry when he first took ownership of the west London club.

It is understood that, despite the sacking of Avram Grant, the Stamford Bridge hierarchy will continue to pursue the players identified by the Israeli as top priority. Torres is one of those individuals.

An insider is quoted as saying: "There is a desire among certain people at Liverpool to sell at the right price.

"It's just a case of whether they have the nerve to incur the wrath of the Liverpool fans."

Torres, 24, only moved to Anfield last summer from Atletico Madrid for a £23 million fee, and if Abramovich were to offer more than double that amount, there is a feeling that a deal could be done as Liverpool look to raise funds for squad improvement, and for their projected new stadium.

Grant is thought to have identified Torres, the already-signed Jose Boswinga, as well as Real Madrid' Robinho and AC Milan's Kaka as the players to help take Chelsea forward.

With Grant now out of the picture at Stamford Bridge, any new manager would want to have some input into additional playing staff, but it is unlikely that players of Torres' calibre would upset his vision.